Wanting To Get Back Into Duck Hunting

[ness]

2 hours ago, BilletHead said:

    You wanted to be out there today?

It was pretty ducky out there.

 

[BilletHead]

  Yes it was and still is down here. Three inches of run off this go around and still raining. If I had webbed feet and an oil gland on my rear I would be out there. Made a pond scout on the way to town this morning. Looking good!

Billethead

[Linhardt]

Like they say it is addicting.  Got bitten by the bug in the early 90's, first hunt was my brother and I at Eagle Bluffs CA with a dozen borrowed G&H decoys, folding chairs, cheap call, camo, waders, and guns.  Hunkered down in Pool 11 North, killed 2 ducks and on first one ran in excitement to get it and got tangled in the weeds and took a slight dunk.  Enough to get part of my jacket and arm soaked.  Ever since then I was hooked, and never went deer hunting again.  Met quite a few good people via duck hunting, and been on many good hunts.  I mainly hunt public areas, cause I cannot afford duck hunting land or leases.  It gets mighty ridiculous on prices of land and leases for duck hunting.  Some times it feels like a rich man sport with all the gear, etc.  But you do not need much most times to kill a few ducks.  Just some good know how, scouting, and ability to adapt to hunting situations, and the ability to get yourself covered up to not be seen.  

Now I have acquired a bunch of gear over the years.  IMO to be really versatile in duck hunting, it is best to have some sort of smaller boat, such as jon boat, or better yet a layout boat similar to Four Rivers Layout boat.  That way you can hunt shallow water to somewhat deeper water, some lakes and rivers.  I used to have several layout boats, but have sold all of them over time.  You would possibly need a deer cart or similar to help haul gear if walking long distances.  Layout blind for field hunting. A few dozen mallard dekes, or a mix bag of species.  decent gun, decent waders, decent call, blind bag to carry some gear. 

I need to get myself out there again and enjoy it like I used to.  Buy tags every year but have not made it out the past few years.  

[tho1mas]

You forgot to add in a Lab.

[Linhardt]

56 minutes ago, tho1mas said:

You forgot to add in a Lab.

Yes you can add a Duck Dog in, but the reason I didn't is because I never had one and still get out hunting.  Usually just use my boat if it's too deep to retrieve by foot.  There are also a handful of times that I have used a rod and reel with topwater stick bait.  But I have hunted over duck dogs, and it is nice to have especially looking for cripples.

[ness]

My uncle was a duck hunting nut back when I was a kid. He had an outstanding black lab that was a joy to watch retrieve birds. And, like all labs, had the great personality. I love my Brittanys, but they don't care for the water much. I'll probably always have a Brit, but my next dog may be a lab.

So, I ordered this bad boy yesterday:

Cabela's Northern Flight 1 Mobile 1 layout blind here. Pretty inexpensive and highly rated.

[BilletHead]

    I am with ya Ness

If I outlive my dog we have now a lab will the next. We have four layout blinds like this. Even on our farm ponds/ farm lakes we have no blinds. We use our layouts,

BilletHead

[Linhardt]

On 12/4/2015, 9:22:05, ness said:

So, I ordered this bad boy yesterday:

Cabela's Northern Flight 1 Mobile 1 layout blind here. Pretty inexpensive and highly rated.

Get that thing mudded up, find the ducks or geese, and make sure you use plenty of surrounding vegetation from where you are hunting to make sure you blend in well. It will serve you well.